Finland's Need for Better Sleddog Welfare Standards
Why Finland should lead Europe on tougher sleddog welfare guidelines, given the husky industry's value to the northern economy.
Why should Finland lead Europe on tougher sleddog welfare guidelines? Tourism drives the northern economy. In Enontekio, where we are based, it equated to c. 50% of the municipality's direct income in 2011, and it has grown since. Sleddogs are pivotal to that business, yet national legislation protects them poorly.
- Tourism is c. 50% of Enontekio municipality's direct income (2011 figure, now likely higher)
- Animal-based tourism in Finnish Lapland is worth c. EUR 50 million/year
- 42 of 158 discoverable animal-based tourism companies in Finnish Lapland (2017) were husky companies
- c. 4000 dogs across discoverable farms; real number likely twice as high
- TUI 2017 research: ~70% of holidaymakers want excursions; 60% only if global animal welfare standards are met
Tourism... a major player in the economy
Visit Finland 2018 shows domestic and foreign tourist numbers in Finnish Lapland running level, with the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe the largest foreign markets. Tourism employs more than 5.5% of Finland's population, and far more across the fourteen key regions of Finnish Lapland.
The EU-funded project 'Animal Welfare in Tourism Services' surveyed the sector. In 2017, 158 animal-based tourism companies in Finnish Lapland had discoverable websites, 42 of them husky companies. The real dog population is likely twice the c. 4000 those companies hold.
What is the value of this industry?
Animal-based tourism in Finnish Lapland is worth c. EUR 50 million/year, with reindeer tourism now matching the value of reindeer in the meat industry, and sleddogs a cornerstone of the winter product. Yet there are no enforceable sleddog-specific regulations on basic care, and no agreed voluntary codes for farms to baseline against. Finland should be spearheading a European drive towards tighter legislation to safeguard this part of the northern economy.
Regional cooperation needs between stakeholders
As tourist numbers grow, cooperation between businesses, reindeer herders and other land users over trail access becomes vital. In 2014, Santa Safaris / Transun, a UK company, brought a Swedish operator to Enontekio for the short winter season instead of using local businesses. The visiting dogs carried kennel cough and infected local dogs, putting the whole area's animals at risk. Disease is not the only danger. Trail access is sensitive too, particularly in the Saami areas, and users must respect the shared needs of local stakeholders.
What should be done, moving forward?
Market research commissioned by TUI in January 2017 found that around 70% of holidaymakers wanted the option of excursions, and 60% of those would only take them if the attractions met global animal welfare standards.
Change comes from shifting perspective until a tipping point. Yet the legislation is rarely available in English, a real problem when so many Scandinavian sled farms are foreign owned or run.
Good to know
- Husky companies (2017)
- 42 of 158 animal-based operators
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.